Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120157828 | OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY AND ILLUMINATION USING COMMON LIGHT SOURCE - A light source for a surgical system includes a broadband light source operable to produce broadband light. The light source further includes a wavelength splitter adapted to split the broadband light into illumination light having a spectral range covering at least a majority of the visible spectrum and surgical light having a spectral range outside of the spectral range of the illumination light. The light source then includes at least one surgical module adapted to control application of the surgical light. The light source also includes first and second coupling optics. The first coupling optics are configured to optically couple the illumination light to an illumination light guide for delivery to a first surgical probe. The second coupling optics are configured to optically couple the surgical light to a surgical light guide for delivery to a second surgical probe. | 06-21-2012 |
20130041233 | ENDOILLUMINATION USING DECENTERED FIBER LAUNCH - An endoilluminator system includes an endoilluminator probe and an illumination source. The endoilluminator probe includes a nano-scale optical fiber and a probe fiber connector, and the illumination source includes a source fiber connector. The illumination source is configured to produce an illumination spot at the source fiber connector having a diameter smaller than a diameter of a fiber core of the nano-scale optical fiber. The probe fiber connector and the source connector are configured when connected to align the illumination spot off-center relative to the nano-scale optical fiber such that the angular distribution of light emitted by the nano-scale optical fiber is increased relative to aligning the illumination spot at a center of the nano-scale optical fiber. | 02-14-2013 |
20130144278 | Devices and Methods for Multispot Scanning - An ophthalmic endoprobe system comprises an optical fiber configured to transmit light energy along an optical axis. The system further comprises a first scanning element rotatable relative to the optical fiber and arranged to receive at least a portion of the transmitted light energy. The first scanning element includes a diffractive optical element. The system also comprises a second scanning element rotatable relative to the first scanning element and arranged to receive at least a portion of the transmitted light energy from the first scanning element. | 06-06-2013 |
20130158392 | Reciprocating Drive Optical Scanner for Surgical Endoprobes - A microsurgical endoprobe and method for use are provided. The microsurgical endoprobe may have a cannula assembly with a proximal element and a distal element coupled to a mechanical actuator. The microsurgical endoprobe may be configured to rotate at least one of the proximal element and the distal element in a first direction for an arc period, perform a microsurgical procedure on the tissue, and rotate the at least one of the proximal element and the distal element in a second direction opposite to the first direction for the arc period. The microsurgical endoprobe may include a hand-piece having a motor with a cannula assembly coupled to the hand-piece. | 06-20-2013 |
20130158393 | Concentric Drive Scanning Probe - An endoprobe for microsurgical procedures is provided, including a hand-piece having a concentric drive having a proximal coupling and a distal coupling and a cannula assembly coupled to the hand-piece. The cannula assembly may include an outer tube having a longitudinal axis and an inner tube positioned within the outer tube, the distal coupling providing a first rotation to the outer tube about the longitudinal axis and the proximal coupling providing a second rotation to the inner tube within the outer tube. According to embodiments disclosed herein a method for scanning a light beam using a cannula assembly as described above is also provided. | 06-20-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110037948 | White light emitting diode (LED) illuminator for ophthalmic endoillumination - An ophthalmic endoilluminator is provided. The ophthalmic endoilluminator includes one or more white light emitting diodes (LEDs), an additional light source, a first optical assembly, an optical coupling element, and an optical fiber optically coupled to the optical coupling element. The white LED is capped with a phosphor layer. The additional light source illuminates at least a portion of an exterior surface of the phosphor layer within an absorption band of phosphor material of the phosphor layer in order to excite the phosphor layer and produce additional white light. The first optical assembly receives and substantially collimates the white light. The optical coupling element receives the substantially collimated white light from the first optical assembly and directs the light to an optical fiber. The optical fiber is then used to conduct the white light into an eye. | 02-17-2011 |
20110043760 | Fixed optical system having an adjustable target - A fiber optic illuminator is provided comprising an optics bed, a light source, a collimating lens, and a condensing lens. The light source is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed. The collimating lens is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed and collimates at least a portion of the light from the light source. A condensing lens receives the substantially collimated light output and focuses the collimated light output to optically couple to an optical fiber. The condensing lens may be mounted on an adjustable mount. The tolerances of the fixed optical elements i.e. light source and collimating lens allow the fixed optical elements to be positioned with a minimal amount of variation where the variation is determined by manufacturing tolerances associated with these individual elements and their mounts and couple them to the optics bed. | 02-24-2011 |
20110110114 | Structured illumination probe and method - A structured illumination surgical system is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, comprising an optical fiber, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical element, a proximal end of the optical element optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area (e.g., a surgical site), wherein the surface area of the proximal end of the optical element is greater than the surface area of the distal end of the optical fiber; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element. | 05-12-2011 |
20110112377 | Structured illumination probe and method - A structured illumination probe is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: an optical fiber, to receive and transmit a light beam; a handpiece, coupled to the optical fiber; an optical element, comprising a distal optical fiber and a distal light guide, wherein the proximal ends of the distal optical fiber and the distal light guide can be selectably optically coupled to the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area, and wherein the surface area of the proximal end of the distal light guide is greater than the surface area of the distal end of the optical fiber; an actuator, coupled to the handpiece, for selectably coupling the optical fiber to the distal optical fiber and the distal light guide; and a cannula, coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element. | 05-12-2011 |
20130077917 | Shaping laser beam launches into optical fibers to yield specific output effects - Certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam diverging element configured to diverge the laser light to yield a range of propagation angles with a maximum angle greater than zero, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber. As another example, certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam shaping element configured to shape the laser light into a beam with an elliptical cross-section, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber, where the spot's center point is located at a distance from the cross-section's center point. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079598 | Ophthalmic endoilluminators with directed light - Certain embodiments of an endoilluminator may include a cannula, an intermediate material, and an optical fiber. The cannula has a substantially cylindrical shape that defines an interior region and has a cylindrical axis. The intermediate material is disposed within the interior region. The optical fiber is disposed within the intermediate material and has a fiber optical axis and a distal end configured to emit light. The emitted light has an illumination pattern with an illumination axis that is not parallel to the cylindrical axis. | 03-28-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120203075 | White coherent laser light launched into nano fibers for surgical illumination - Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less. | 08-09-2012 |
20140066723 | White coherent laser light launched into nano fibers for surgical illumination - Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less. | 03-06-2014 |
20140333978 | FORWARD SCANNING OPTICAL PROBES WITH ONE OR MORE ROTATING COMPONENTS - In certain embodiments, a scanning system comprises optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements comprise an optical fiber and a focusing element. The optical fiber transmits a light ray and has a fiber axis that extends to an imaginary fiber axis. The focusing element refracts the light ray and has a focusing element optical axis that is substantially aligned with the imaginary fiber axis. The movement system rotates the focusing element about the focusing element optical axis to scan the light ray. In other embodiments, a scanning system comprises optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements comprise an optical fiber, a focusing element, and a prism. The prism has a prism optical axis and receives the light ray from the focusing element. The movement system rotates the prism about the prism optical axis to scan the light ray. | 11-13-2014 |
20140364699 | OPHTHALMIC ENDOILLUMINATORS WITH DIRECTED LIGHT - Certain embodiments of an endoilluminator may include a cannula, an intermediate material, and an optical fiber. The cannula has a substantially cylindrical shape that defines an interior region and has a cylindrical axis. The intermediate material is disposed within the interior region. The optical fiber is disposed within the intermediate material and has a fiber optical axis and a distal end configured to emit light. The emitted light has an illumination pattern with an illumination axis that is not parallel to the cylindrical axis. | 12-11-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110037949 | OPHTHALMIC ENDOILLUMINATION WITH THERMALLY ISOLATED PHOSPHOR - An illuminator configured to deliver white light into an optical fiber includes a pump light source and a white phosphor. The pump light source configured to emit short-wavelength light. The white phosphor is disposed to receive the short-wavelength light from the pump light source and to output white light in response to the pumping light. The white phosphor is thermally isolated from the pump light source. | 02-17-2011 |
20110038174 | OPHTHALMIC ENDOILLUMINATION WITH LIGHT COLLECTOR FOR WHITE PHOSPHOR - In one embodiment, an illuminator configured to emit light into an optical fiber includes at least one pump light source configured to emit short-wavelength light. The illuminator further includes a white phosphor disposed to receive the short-wavelength light and to emit white light in response. The illuminator also includes a light collector configured to collect the short-wavelength light at the white phosphor such that a brightness of the white light is greater than a brightness of the short-wavelength light. | 02-17-2011 |
20110144745 | OPHTHALMIC ENDOILLUMINATION SYSTEM - An endoillumination system comprises a system controller and a light modulation apparatus responsive to the controller to alter at least one parameter associated with a input light beam to generate a modulated light beam. The endoillumination system further comprises an optical fiber for carrying the modulated light beam and a probe through which at least a portion of the optical fiber extends. The probe is sized for insertion into an eye. | 06-16-2011 |
20110245820 | APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING BRIGHTNESS OF A WAVELENGTH CONVERTING ELEMENT - Disclosed is an exemplary illumination device for enhancing the brightness of wavelength converting element. The illumination device includes a wavelength converting element operable for receiving light from a light source at a first wavelength range and converting the light to a second wavelength range. The wavelength converting element includes a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and a side edge extending between the first and second faces. A reflective optical element is arranged adjacent the side edge of the wave converting element. The reflective optical element is configured to reflect light in at least the first wavelength range toward the wavelength converting element. | 10-06-2011 |
20120147329 | WAVELENGTH CONVERTING ILLUMINATION PROBE - Disclosed is an exemplary wavelength converting illumination probe having an illumination probe that can be selectively connected to a light source configured to generate light at a first wavelength range. The illumination probe including a lumen defining an aperture in a distal end of the illumination probe for emitting light. The wavelength converting illumination probe further including a wavelength converting element disposed within the lumen of the illumination probe. The wavelength converting element operable for receiving light from the light source at the first wavelength range, and converting the light to a second wavelength range. | 06-14-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120190921 | COUNTER-ROTATING OPHTHALMIC SCANNER DRIVE MECHANISM - An endoprobe for ophthalmic microsurgical procedures including a hand-piece including a motor, a cannula assembly coupled to the hand-piece, and a transmission system coupling the motor to the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube concentric with the outer tube, each able to rotate about the longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The transmission system rotates the outer tube in a first direction and the inner tube in a second, opposing direction about the longitudinal axis. A method for scanning a light beam along a linear trajectory using a cannula assembly as above is also provided. | 07-26-2012 |
20120191078 | COMBINED SURGICAL ENDOPROBE FOR OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY, ILLUMINATION OR PHOTOCOAGULATION - A surgical system includes a surgical laser source operable to emit a surgical laser beam and an OCT engine operable to emit an OCT beam. The surgical system also includes an endoprobe optically coupled to the surgical laser source and the OCT engine. The endoprobe includes an OCT fiber for transmitting the OCT beam, a surgical laser fiber for transmitting the surgical laser beam, and scanning optics optically coupled to the OCT fiber and the surgical laser fiber, the scanning optics configured to simultaneously scan both the OCT beam and the surgical laser beam. The surgical system further includes a processor programmed to control the scanning optics to scan the OCT beam and the surgical laser beam over a targeted tissue area and to detect an OCT signal from the targeted tissue area. | 07-26-2012 |
20120245569 | PNEUMATICALLY DRIVEN OPHTHALMIC SCANNING ENDOPROBE - An ophthalmic endoprobe including a hand-piece and a cannula assembly having a longitudinal axis is provided. The cannula assembly including an inner tube concentric with an outer tube; wherein the hand-piece may further include a motor powered by a pneumatic energy source, the motor providing motion to a transmission shaft; and a transmission system to couple the shaft motion to the cannula assembly; wherein the transmission system provides a counter-rotating motion to the inner tube and the outer tube about the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A fluid console for use in endoscopic ophthalmic microsurgery including a pneumatics module to obtain a pneumatic force from an external source and provide an adjustable pneumatic force; a scanning module coupled to the pneumatics module; and an endoprobe coupled to the scanning module is also provided. | 09-27-2012 |
20120283523 | ILLUMINATED MICROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT INCLUDING OPTICAL FIBER WITH BEVELED END FACE - An illuminated microsurgical instrument includes a microsurgical instrument having a distal tip and an optical fiber for delivering a beam of light to a surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end for receiving a light beam from a light source, and a distal end proximate to the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument for emitting the light beam. The distal end includes a beveled end face either oriented toward or oriented opposite from the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument. | 11-08-2012 |
20140307078 | Method and System to Detect Ophthalmic Tissue Structure and Pathologies - A method to determine an ophthalmic tissue structure comprises measuring image data for a range of depths corresponding to a target point in an eye with an axial scanner with a probe; determining an image information by an imaging processor from the image data; identifying a tissue pathology corresponding to the target point by the processor from the image information; and signaling a user by a user indicator based on the identified tissue pathology. A corresponding apparatus comprises an axial scanner with a probe to measure image data for a range of depths corresponding to a target point in an eye; a processor to determine an image information from the image data, and to identify a tissue pathology corresponding to the target point from the image information; and a user indicator to signal a user based on the identified tissue pathology. | 10-16-2014 |